Papaya is one of the important nutrient rich tropical fruit that is preferred and cultivated almost in majority of the states of India. Choice of variety, proper nutrition and disease management are the key operations for successful commercial papaya cultivation. Micronutrient deficiency starting from the early stage of growth can cause poor growth and yield reduction. Thus a potted plant experiment was conducted to study the influence of zinc and boron as foliar application on seedling growth of papaya. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with nine treatments comprising of zinc sulphate @ 0.2 and 0.4%, and borax @ 0.2 and 0.4% and their combinations along with a control treatment (distilled water spray). The seedlings were raised in polythene bags filled with growing media (soil: sand: FYM @ 4:2:1) and sprayed with the micronutrients as per treatment, adjusting neutral pH at 15 day’s interval after germination. The application of ZnSO4 @ 0.4% + borax @ 0.2% improved seedling growth of papaya in terms of height, girth, number of leaves and leaf size. Also, the fresh and dry weights of shoot and root also showed significant improvement. Thus the foliar application of ZnSO4 @ 0.4% + borax @ 0.2% can be recommended for better seedling growth of papaya.

Plant disease management presently relies heavily on chemical fungicides. However, their harmful impact on human and ecosystem, and development of fungicide-resistant strains has emphasized on biological control as alternative eco-friendly strategy for disease management and sustainable agriculture. Trichoderma is a widely used as biocontrol agent against various phyto pathogenic fungi owing to its effective strategies to suppress plant pathogens. The control phenomenon involves direct mechanisms like mycoparasitism, secretion of hydrolytic enzymes which degrade the cell walls of pathogenic fungi, and indirect mechanisms like competition for resources, induction of plant defense mechanism and antibiosis. Trichoderma’s multifaceted approach to biological control makes it environment-friendly option for managing plant diseases. Recent biotechnological approaches have simplified the isolation and characterization of efficient biocontrol agents, along with the identification of their genetic by-products. These techniques facilitate the cloning of these microbes in plants, with aim to bolster their resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Biotechnological advances have not only reinforced the symbiotic interaction between microbes and plants but also allowed the modification of processes through microbial biocontrol agents (MCBAs). Genome sequencing of MBCAs has provided valuable insights into their genetic makeup, aiding their characterization. The present comprehensive review provides an insight to the existing and recent molecular advances utilized to enhance the efficiency of MBCAs in managing plant diseases and understanding biocontrol mechanisms through various omics technologies.

Annona glabra L. (family: Annonaceae) is used as a traditional medicine against several human infirmities, including cancer. Most of the members of family annonaceae possess a unique class of natural product called acetogenins. The present study was aimed to extract and fractionate the acetogenins from the leaves of Annona glabra using the solvents of increasing polarity, such as hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate ethanol, and water. Solvents with higher polarity such as ethyl acetate were found more effective in extracting lactone-containing compounds as compared to the less polar solvents. The quantity of acetogenins isolated from the A. glabra leaves was estimated by lactone concentration test. LC-MS/MS screening showed the presence of acetogenins in the samples with m/z values 596.9, 606.9, 679.8, 566.8, 550.85, 672.15, 672.15, 624.9 and 565.35. These findings open up effective methods for separation and quantification of bioactive compounds. Further studies are to be focused on evaluating the efficacy of these compounds in pre-clinical and clinical trials, which may potentially contribute in developing the novel therapeutic formulations.

The use of plant-based drugs against various human disorders have attained global interest. Multicomponent essential oils are used to cure inflammation- related disorders. The present study was aimed to assess the anti inflammatory potential of essential oil from Rosmarinus officinalis (EO RO) using in vitro model of LPS-activated RAW macrophage cell lines. EO-RO was hydro-distilled using Clevenger apparatus and evaluated first for protein denaturation and proteinase inhibitory activities, followed by assays for cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities in RAW 264.7 macrophage cell lines. The data was statistically analysed by one-way analysis of variance. Dose-dependent inhibition was observed in protein denaturation with 50 µg mL-1 EO-RO exhibiting a maximum inhibition of 67.77%. Similarly, proteinase inhibitory assay depicted 72.47% inhibition. The COX and LOX activities showed increased inhibitions in dose-dependent manner i.e. 25 to 100 µg mL-1 EO-RO displayed 58.72 and 75.33%; 28.58 40.86% inhibition, respectively.

Siderophores are low molecular weight compounds secreted by bacteria that bind ferric iron with extremely high affinity. The siderophores help bacteria to meet their iron needs under stress conditions as these compounds help in the transport and storage of soluble form of iron in cells. In current study, we report the effect of various physicochemical parameters that influence siderophore production in marine Pseudomonas aeruginosa MGPB31. Siderophore production was assayed using Chrome Azurol S (CAS) shuttle assay. The maximum siderophore production (56% SU) was obtained in minimal M9 medium after 72 h incubation, followed by succinate medium (52% SU) and King’s medium (51% SU). The M9 medium was then modified by replacing its carbon, nitrogen and phosphate source. Enhanced siderophore production was observed in modified medium comprising of glycerol (70% SU), tri ammonium citrate (67% SU) and KH2PO4 (64% SU). The medium supplemented with iron exhibited a significant reduction in siderophore production. The effect of physical parameters like temperature, pH and agitation on siderophore production revealed that the isolate exhibited maximum siderophore production under static conditions in modified M9 medium devoid of iron at 25 ± 2°C and neutral pH. The enhanced siderophore production obtained by marine P. aeruginosa MGPB31 indicates its further applicability in fields of industry agriculture and environment.

Iron is an essential micronutrient for all living organisms because of its critical role in metabolic processes. In plants it plays a key role in the synthesis of chlorophyll, some vital enzymatic and metabolic processese. However, most of the iron in nature is present as precipitates or in insoluble forms. Therefore, biological mechanism has been employed to mineralize Fe(III) oxides into Fe(II) through microbial action to increase the availability of soluble iron. An iron reducing bacterial strain was isolated based on its tolerant limits and iron mineralizing ability. The strain Bacillus sp. SP10 effectively mineralized iron in synthetic medium possessing 1% starch and pH 7. In a 25 day’s column study, the soluble Fe(II) as micronutrient showed a gradual increase in each seepage collected from different treatment columns. Similarly, the plants grown on soil obtained from treatment D (i.e. 1% starch + 1% Bacillus sp. SP10 inoculum + 0.25% anthraquinone-2,6-disulphonate) column displayed good growth and maximum shoot length, mainly due to the increased accessibility of iron through microbial mineralization. The mineralization of Fe in soil was established through SEM and EDX analysis.

The functional groups have a vital role in insect physiology, behaviour, and adaptation to the environment and are crucial in biomimetics to replicate and adapt biological functions for diverse use ranging from medicine to material science and energy technologies. A study was conducted on Leptosia nina forewing scales to assess its chemical composition spectra using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic (FTIR) analysis. The identified functional groups from dorsal white, dorsal black spot, ventral white and ventral black spot areas of L. nina forewing composed of alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, aliphatic amine, alkanes, alkenes, alkyl halides, alkynes, aromatic groups, carboxylic acid groups, nitro compounds, amines, ester and ether with various stretches. The spectra showed minor variations in peaks in the four regions studied. The study is the first record revealing the functional groups of L. nina forewing scales.

Curcuma haritha (Zingiberaceae) is a less explored endemic ethnomedicinal herb of north Kerala (India). The aim of present study was to evaluate the anti inflammatory potential and phytochemical profile of methanolic rhizome extract of C. haritha. The preliminary assays performed were, the proteinase inhibition and the protein denaturation inhibition tests, followed by cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, iNOS and cellular nitrite activity/expression assays in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The toxicity of the extract was studied using MTT assay and the expression of COX-2 inflammatory protein in treated cells was determined by indirect ELISA. The phytochemical profiling was done by GC-MS analysis. All the assays revealed a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect in vitro. The inhibition of inflammatory enzymes, COX-2, Lox and iNOS were observed as 62.16 ± 0.49, 57.25 ± 1.98 and 56.74 ± 2.73%, respectively, at maximum concentration (100 µg mL-1). The cellular nitrite levels and expression of COX-2 mediator protein also decreased in treated cells proving the anti inflammatory effect of the extract. GC-MS screening revealed the presence of 54 phytoconstituents including anti-inflammatory compounds like curcumenol, chamazulene, etc., Therefore, in the light of above results, C. haritha can be considered as a potential anti-inflammatory drug source plant.

The use of synthetic carotenoids in fish feed to potentiate the colouration, along with some health benefits has become exorbitant to mitigate the demand for lucrative ornamental fish within budget. Switching the source of pigmentation and colouration from synthetic to natural sources is all time preferable choice for biological system as well as for fish farmers. Petal dust of Asian pigeonwings (Clitoria ternatea) was incorporated in basal diet to retain the colour of rosy barb (Pethia conchonius) within captive conditions. Varied concentrations of petal dust (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2 g 100 g-1 basal feed) were added to the basal feed, fed twice a day at 4% body weight. Water quality parameters and proximate analysis of feed and growth parameters were measured and carotenoid concentration in fish tissue were measured spectrophotometrically. At the completion of 60 day’s experiment a spectacular increase in growth, survival, and carotenoid concentrations (1.88 to 2.42 µg g-1) in body tissue was observed. The best survival and growth of fish were obtained from D4 (0.5%) at 5% level of significance. In proper captive conditions, it is recommended to include 0.5% Asian Pigeonwings dust in prepared feed for better growth and colour retention of rosy barb.

Cancer is a deadly disease that occurs in skin, pancreas, breast, and other body parts. Breast cancer is nowadays more common and can develop from various cell lines like MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, BT-20, etc. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the frequency of fatalities due to breast cancer, but early cancer screenings are often postponed due to erroneous information, fear, and ignorance. In the present work, we used molecular docking to find out the effect of solasodine binding on different cancer receptors. Solasodine was extracted from black nightshade (Solanum nigrum), a weed that was long used against stomach ache in Ayurveda. The isolated solasodine was even used in ointments against skin cancer. Docking such a medicinally potent compound resulted in positive response against a few receptors like Farnesoid X, epidermal growth factor receptor and progesterone receptor. MCF-7 breast cancer cell line was chosen for further ex-vivo studies and the results of MTT assay showed significant anti-cancer effects at solasodine concentrations of 500 and 1000 µg mL-1. These findings indicated that Solasodine was a vital candidate as drug against breast cancer.

Obesity, a global health challenge, particularly affecting Asian populations due to inappropriate snacking behaviour and food choices, prompted this study. The research aimed to evaluate the impact of a 10-week cognitive group treatment on snacking behaviour among overweight women aged 30-60 years. In a randomized control trial with 66 female working participants (BMI > 25 kg m-²), the groups were categorized as control (n = 34) and experimental (n = 32). Initially, snacking contributed significantly to daily energy (29.39%), carbohydrates (21.11%), protein (35.53%), and fat (50.61%) intake in the experimental group. After the cognitive group treatment, there was a substantial (p≤0.01) reduction in the contribution of these nutrients through snacking, with percentages dropping to 11.62, 14.60, 10.04, and 7.67, respectively. Post-treatment, significant (p≤0.01) reductions were observed in body weight (4%), fat mass (2%), waist circumference (4.9%), and hip circumference (2.7%) among the subjects. The study emphasized that the behavioural changes leading to healthier snacking can be a sustainable approach for weight management and that making healthier snack choices can aid in the battle against overweight and obesity.

Urinary tract infections are an exceedingly common worldwide problem, caused mostly by Gram-negative bacteria, especially Escherichia coli. Microbial biofilms are considered a serious public health problem. The potential of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) to produce biofilm was explored in the present study. The Congo red agar, tube- and tissue culture plate methods were used to evaluate the formation of biofilm by E. coli isolates. Of the 155 isolates, 101, 106 and 90 isolates were positive for these three methods, respectively. Subsequently, the sensitivity of E. coli isolates to antimicrobial agents (amikacin, cefepime, cefixime, cefotaxime, cefpodoxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, gentamycin, nalidixic acid, ofloxacin and pefloxacin) was tested. There was no difference in the rate of biofilm detection between Congo red agar method and tube method. The antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that the biofilm producing isolates were multi-drug resistant. The study emphasized the necessity for developing alternative therapeutic approaches to overcome multi drug resistance arising from biofilm formation of UPEC.

The synthesis and characterization of various nanoparticles using the extracts from Hibiscus ficulneus L., a medicinal plant known for its therapeutic properties, were investigated. Nanoparticles of three metals, namely silver, copper and zinc (used in the form of silver nitrate, copper sulphate, and zinc sulphate) were synthesized. The presence of nanoparticles was confirmed by observing a spectrum in visible range, which was carried out using a UV-visible spectrophotometer. To observe the crystalline structure, XRD analysis was performed. SEM analysis revealed uniformly distributed silver nanoparticles on the surfaces of the cells. The silver nanoparticles were spherical in shape with particle size in the range of 2 to 20 μm. The antimicrobial activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was evaluated using the zone of inhibition method. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed with silver nanoparticles as compared to the other silver nano particle extracts, particularly against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20 mm). These results highlight the significant antimicrobial potential of silver nanoparticles against pathogenic bacteria. This study underscores the role of terrestrial products as potential sources for pharmaceutical applications.

The aim of the study was to examine the toxic effect of sulphur dioxide on the ovaries of female rats. The effect of different concentrations of SO2 (0, 5, 10 and 15 ppm) on antioxidant enzymes and histopathological changes were investigated in ovaries of female rats under natural and experimental conditions. Naturally exposed, house rats, Rattus rattus (Group I) were collected from agricultural fields alongside the road in Ludhiana, India and acclimatized for 1 month in laboratory. Laboratory-bred house rats were divided into four groups. Group II (control rats), III, IV and V were first exposed to the filtered air in 1 m3 exposure chamber for 5 h day-1 for 28 days and then treated with 0, 5, 10 and 15 ppm of SO2, respectively. SO2 treatment showed significant increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels, followed by significant decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and GSH-PX in ovaries of female rats. The results revealed that SO2 can cause oxidative damage to the ovaries of female rats. The increase in LPO and decrease in other enzymes was more promine

Phenetic analysis is a method for comparing plant species to establish their degree of genetic similarity. To identify and classify the enormous variety of plant life, morphological traits are essential. As the primary characteristics of Calotropis procera and Jatropha curcas species, subspecies, and variety were inadequately documented, there has been long-standing misunderstanding and controversy concerning the taxonomic designations of these species. This study aimed to use morphometric data to taxonomically identify C. procera and J. curcas using multivariate analysis. From the wild of Randagi, Sabon Gero, and Kabara in Kaduna state, Northern Nigeria, twelve samples of C. procera and J. curcas each were collected. SIMCA-P (V.14.1, Umetrics Sweden) was used for unsupervised multivariate analysis along with numerical phenetic analysis. The analysis of this phenetic data yielded a spectrum filter model with the strongest predictive power (fitness of the model) (Q2 (cum) 0.977) and the maximum variation (R2X (cum) 0.988). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed clustering between the species under examination along PCs 1 and 2, with C. procera clustering along the Y axis and J. curcas clustering along the X axis. A useful technique for avoiding adulteration is phenetic analysis-based taxonomic identification of plants in conjunction with multivariate analysis. However, to specifically analyse their relationships, a combination of molecular and developmental datasets is still required.

Phytochemicals are widely being explored for their cancer preventive properties in today’s oncotherapy. Quercetin is a major constituent of various dietary products and its anti-cancer potential was explored on different cancer cell lines. The present study was conducted to find out the anti-proliferative effects of quercetin on human triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB 231. The anti-cancer potential of quercetin, nano-quercetin and doxorubicin at various concentrations were assessed by cellular cytotoxicity (MTT) assay. The IC50 values of quercetin, nano-quercetin and doxorubicin on MDA-MB 231 cell line were 394.8, 204.6 and 17.17 μM, respectively. In vitro anti-cancer effects of these drugs were manifested as apoptosis and cellular toxicity. The cytotoxicity was moderate in quercetin, remarkable in nano-quercetin and strong in doxorubicin treatments. The in vitro anti-cancer effect of quercetin was comparable with the standard drug doxorubicin. Considering the potential side effects of doxorubicin, the quercetin might be explored with further studies in the treatment of mammary tumours in animals and humans.